Renewable energy and low carbon
Scotland's renewable energy resources offer big opportunities for international investors, particularly in carbon capture, energy storage, and decarbonisation of heat and transport. Scotland is home to the world’s first tidal array, world’s first floating offshore wind farm and Europe’s largest hydrogen bus fleet.
25% offshore resource
Scotland has 25% of Europe's offshore wind and tidal resource
£308 billion global market
The global market for low carbon heat technologies is predicted to grow to £308 billion by 2050
60% onshore wind capacity
Scotland has around 60% of the UK's onshore wind capacity
A renewable energy world-leader
There's no better industry for investment opportunities than Scotland's thriving renewable energy sector.
Scotland has 12,000km of coastline and more than 790 islands. With our abundant resources, outstanding locations, exceptional experience, unrivalled government support and world-class research and development facilities we're leading the world in renewables.
Scotland remains the best-placed country in Europe to realise Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) on a commercial scale. Investing in Scotland means access to potential capital contracts worth tens of billions as well as huge export revenue possibilities.
Transition to a net-zero economy
Scotland has an ambitious energy strategy and a supportive environment for investment. The Scottish Government is fully committed to its green energy targets to:
- Generate 100% of Scotland's electricity demand from renewables by 2020
- Deliver 50% of Scotland's total energy consumption from renewables by 2030
- Reduce Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045 – five years ahead of the rest of the UK
- Phase out need for new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2032 and lead on low carbon transport
Hydrogen in Scotland webinar
Green hydrogen at an industrial scale for a zero-carbon future - find out why Scotland has one of the best ecosystems for the hydrogen economy in Europe. Register to watch this free playback.
World's first commercially funded tidal array
MeyGen’s tidal energy project in Scotland's Pentland Firth is Europe's largest tidal power project
Together with our partner organisations, we've been supporting MeyGen's work in Scotland since 2006. Eventually 269 turbines will be installed on the MeyGen project site, producing 398MW. That's enough to power 175,000 homes and support more than 100 jobs. By joining MeyGen in Scotland, your project will be at the forefront of tidal power generation.
"Tidal power could help deliver clean, predictable, sustainable and secure energy to millions of homes in the UK, making use of the highly sophisticated existing supply chain already present in Scotland. We would not have reached this stage without support from Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government. Their support has allowed the industry to power ahead, and Scotland to lead the world."
Tim Cornelius, CEO of Atlantis, owners of the MeyGen project
Financial support
Scotland’s energy transition is underpinned by targeted financial support which your business can access:
- £500 million to support the adoption of low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures via Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP)
- £60 million for innovative Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP)
- £20 million Energy Investment Fund for projects delivering important solutions for the renewable energy and low carbon industry
- £45 million for 600 local energy projects supported via the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) since 2013
- £38.6 million for 86 projects supported via Wave Energy Scotland since 2014
"The involvement of Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Investment Bank was instrumental in getting the project finance package required to undertake Phase 1 of this seminal project. MeyGen is now the poster child for marine energy sector globally."
Tim Cornelius, CEO of Atlantis, owners of the MeyGen project
Low carbon and sustainable growth ecosystem
Scotland’s Energy Technology Partnership (ETP) is the largest most broad-based energy research partnership in Europe. The ETP is an autonomous alliance of 13 independent Scottish Higher Education Institutions providing world-class capability and resources in energy research, design and development.
ETP’s vision is to build on the existing areas of excellence and collaborative working to ensure that Scotland remains, into the future, a world-renowned source for energy related RD&D and its commercialisation in the energy sector.
The Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) is a venture founded by government, industrial and academic partners. It aims to speed up the adoption of innovative research and technologies from early stage research into business-as-usual adoption by the electricity industry.
Unique facility
Building the next generation of energy networks requires collaboration. The PNDC connects stakeholders through every stage of the innovation process. This unique facility enables highly realistic and accelerated technology testing alongside a rich portfolio of smart grid research programmes.
The European Marine Energy Centre’s (EMEC’s) mission is to reduce the time, cost, and risk associated with the development of marine energy technologies, maximising the use of our bespoke facilities, industry knowledge, and unprecedented experience.
World first
The EMEC is the first and only centre of its kind in the world to provide developers of both wave and tidal energy converters – technologies that generate electricity by harnessing the power of waves and tidal streams – with purpose-built, accredited open-sea testing facilities.
With 13 grid-connected test berths, there have been more marine energy converters deployed at EMEC than at any other single site in the world. It attracts developers from around the globe to prove what is achievable in some of the harshest marine environments.
Verified standards
EMEC operates to relevant test laboratory standards (ISO17025) enabling the Centre to provide independently-verified performance assessments. The Centre is accredited to ISO/IEC 17020 offering independent technology verification on marine energy converters and their sub-systems.
Consultancy and research services
Beyond technology demonstration and testing, EMEC provides a wide range of consultancy and research services. It’s working closely with Marine Scotland to streamline the consenting process.
EMEC is at the forefront in the development of international standards for marine energy - forging alliances with other countries and exporting its knowledge around the world to stimulate the development of a global marine renewables industry.
Test sites
We also operate two scale test sites where smaller scale devices, or those at an earlier stage in their development, can gain real sea experience in less challenging conditions than those experienced at the grid-connected wave and tidal test sites.
Hydrogen production
Added to our wave and tidal sites, EMEC has an onshore hydrogen production plant in Eday where green hydrogen is generated from surplus tidal and wind energy. With a view of developing a hydrogen economy in Orkney, our demonstration site for new hydrogen technologies is a key element of various hydrogen research projects.
The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has seven locations in the UK and one in China.
ORE Catapult plays a key role in delivering the UK’s largest clean growth opportunity, through their mission to speed the creation and growth of UK companies in the offshore renewable energy sector. They use their unique facilities and research and engineering capabilities to bring together industry and academia and drive innovation in renewable energy.
The National HVDC Centre, based in Cumbernauld, Scotland, is the UK's only simulation and training facility designed to support and de-risk projects for all High Voltage Direct Current schemes connecting to the UK grid. This state-of-the-art facility ensures the integrity and security of the grid network.
The £1.1 billion Caithness–Moray HVDC project, was commissioned in 2018, enabling wind generators in Caithness to connect to the rest of the UK grid, bringing the abundant wind resource in the north of Scotland to the rest of GB. Converter stations are located at Spittal (800MW capacity) and Blackhillock (1200MW capacity). The scheme has been designed to extend to up to 5 terminals, making it Europe’s first multi-terminal HVDC grid design.
Hydro Nation Water Innovation Service supports companies to test and commercialise water related technology and bring it to market. It's a partnership between Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Water and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).
Water Test Network is an Interreg funded project giving companies access to water test facilities across north-west Europe. Scotland is now the best supported place in Europe for companies to carry out research and demonstration of water related technology.
Education and research
- Scotland has the world's largest energy research group - over 700 renewable energy scientists, engineers and academics
- Five of Scotland’s universities are ranked in the world’s top 200
- Scotland leads the UK in university spinouts and investment in higher education R&D
- Our centres of excellence and innovation bring together leaders in industry and academia
- Scotland’s Energy Technology Partnership is the largest most broad-based energy research partnership in Europe, with 600 researchers across 13 universities
- Scotland is home to a unique low carbon and sustainable growth ecosystem, leading the world in research and development (R&D) and transmission and distribution of electricity (T&D) facilities
Skills and expertise
- Scotland has the largest concentration of offshore engineering expertise in the world outside of Houston
- We're home to over 2,000 oil and gas supply chain companies with deep water experience
- Scotland’s supply chain has skills and expertise in the diverse adaptable renewable energy and low carbon industry
- Scotland is delivering solutions for world-first projects in offshore wind, marine renewables, energy storage and a range of other emerging technologies
- Scotland’s pioneering energy sector is at the forefront of deep-water and floating offshore wind technologies. We are a global leader in the development and deployment of marine renewables and developing new low carbon energy systems
Turning the tide
Scotland has abundant natural resources, a renowned engineering heritage and ambitions to create a greener planet. That makes it the ideal location for Orbital Marine Power to build the world’s most powerful, most technologically advanced tidal turbine.
In this video, Andrew Scott, CEO and director of Orbital Marine Power shares his company's solution to low cost tidal stream energy.
A diverse industry
Energy Systems is about developing new products, services and business models to support the integration across electricity, heat and transport networks. The aim is to drive forward the transition to a low-carbon future.
The Scottish Government has launched a holistic, integrated strategy that lays out a long-term vision for energy in Scotland.
We know that the management and mining of big data and the application of software systems, sensors and electronics is of critical importance.
Digitalisation will be vital for the delivery of an efficient, effective and responsive 21st century energy system.
There are currently more than 120 energy systems companies in Scotland helping to deliver this renewables energy future. And we have unique R&D facilities for testing and demonstrating technology and solutions in energy systems.
Low carbon heat tech
The global market for low-carbon heat technologies is predicted to grow to £308 billion by 2050.
Scotland offers:
- ambitious renewable energy targets
- funding and support for low carbon heating projects
- a highly skilled workforce
- outstanding R&D facilities
- a growing low carbon heat market
Heat demand is at the core of our energy system. Heat is the largest source of CO2 emissions in Scotland and the largest part of our energy use.
As Scotland develops a more integrated energy system, innovative heat technology businesses will find growing opportunities in a range of different areas.
Scotland's water, wave and tidal resources
Scotland has:
- 90% of the UK's surface waters and 85% of the UK's hydro-electric energy resource
- An estimated one third of the UK's tidal resources
- An estimated two thirds of the UK's wave resources
- The world's first tidal arrays, Meygen and Bluemull Sound
Scotland is powering ahead
Scotland is home to the world's first and leading wave and tidal test centre, the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC). We lead the world when it comes to developing, testing and generating electricity from marine devices.
Our total marine energy resource is estimated at 33GW, which brings a wealth of investment opportunity. The EMEC in Orkney has 14 full-scale, grid-connected test berths, and provides developers of wave and tidal converters with purpose-built, accredited open-sea testing facilities.
We have decades of experience and an infrastructure to match. We can help you find the right funding, locations and partners to make your marine energy project a success.
Offshore wind
Scotland is the windbreak of Europe – around a quarter of Europe's offshore wind crosses Scotland. The expertise we built up in the oil and gas industry gives us huge advantages in developing offshore wind projects. That knowledge is helping turn Scotland into a hub of excellence and innovation, driven by proven supply chain companies and dedicated and highly skilled workers.
Visit Offshore Wind Scotland for the latest project and inward investment news
Onshore wind
Scotland is the best place in the UK to build subsidy-free onshore wind due to our abundant natural resources and over 60% of the UK's onshore wind capacity. We have the UK's largest wind farm, powering 300,000 homes and producing 539MW. You'll be investing in a growing industry. The 1.2 gigawatts of onshore wind currently under construction here is expected to deliver an annual turnover of £580 million.
And with an industry infrastructure second to none, your project and investment will be sorted from day one.
Muirhall Energy has started construction of Scotland's first subsidy-free onshore wind farm, while Greencoat UK is among several other developers progressing subsidy-free Scottish onshore wind projects.
Offshore Wind in Scotland guide (PDF, 3.95MB)
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